Tuesday, July 22, 2014

I recently saw these four words on
different bullets on the same chart.

As a senior leader, which one do you
think I was supposed to react to?Should
I have to assume that “now” is before lunch but “immediately” is sometime
afterward?Or possibly, “ASAP” means
today where “soon” is sometime this week?

Communication is hard enough without using
words that seem to mean the same thing but don’t.There is a simple way to avoid this – use a date
and/or time.This is particularly true
when you are making commitments, describing risks or asking for help.Your leaders are pulled in many directions
and will react to the requests that are easily understood and input into “their
system.”To be a strong team player, you
need to understand the system and fit your needs into it.

Trust me, “soon, immediately, ASAP and
now” cannot be calendarized (I did not make up this word, but someone else did).

Do you find yourself or others talking
in general terms on exacting topics?How
do you help avoid this pitfall?

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Experiences around the globe have
taught me the “politically correct” sensitivities of the United States are not universally
shared.Religion is a good example. It
is common in many places to ask a person their religion, particularly if you
think you might have something in common.

So it was that Bala, the driver, asked
me if I was Catholic.He was a kind man
and wanted to share his church if I answered yes.This was in India mind you and Catholics are
far from the majority.Infant JesusChurch (see photo) was in the village of Emjala in an unmapped area of Hyderabad
only 3 kilometers from the plant I was visiting. It was not St. Petersburg
cathedral, but very interesting and having Bala explaining the details and what
takes place here on Sundays in his broken English made it very worthwhile.

Like all major cities, Hyderabad has it
big sites – Chowmahalla Palace, the Golkonda Fort and Charminar among them.I had been there, done that.The locals said “you have seen it all Mr.
John.” It was not so.This small side
trip shows that cultural awareness and learning takes place with every little
exposure and each person you meet when you take the time to understand.

What small things are you exposing your
team to help their cultural awareness journey?

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